A scam recruiter can use personal details to appear legitimate, then pressures you to pay for a fake “resume expert.”
In this week’s scam, you receive an email from a job recruiter that says you’re a perfect candidate for a job opportunity. The email is sent from a Gmail address, but includes specific details about your personal work history, which makes it seem legitimate. However, the recruiter says that your resume doesn’t quite meet their organization’s requirements. They offer to refer you to a “resume expert” who can adjust your resume, but you have to act immediately before the job is no longer available.
But this job recruiter is actually a cybercriminal! They use publicly available data about your work history, such as your LinkedIn profile, to gather information about your previous jobs to make themselves seem more convincing. If you agree to meet with the “resume expert,” you’ll be contacted by another cybercriminal who will offer to help for a price. But this isn’t a real job offer, and the cybercriminals will pocket any money that you send them!
Tips to Stay Safe
Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to this phishing scam:
- A legitimate recruiter will never ask you to pay for anything to be eligible for a job opportunity. Being asked for payment as part of the hiring process for a new job is a red flag.
- Check the sender’s email address carefully. Real recruiters will usually contact you from a corporate email address, rather than a personal email account, such as Gmail.
- Remember, scammers often offer something that seems too good to be true as a way to trick you into sending them money or personal data. If an opportunity seems suspicious, trust your instincts!
Stop. Look. Think. And don’t be fooled.
Tips of the Week Brought to You By Our Partners at KnowBe4
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